The Yankees, the Red Sox ... and luck

Using the word "luck" seems disparaging when we talk about winning championships. It appears to insinuate there wasn't much skill involved. So let's get this out of the way:

The
Boston Red Sox earned their title in 2013. They tied with the
St. Louis Cardinals for the best record in the regular season and then beat them in the World Series. They deserved their glory.

Still, the Sawx were very fortunate. Nearly every single thing went right for them. Yes, this was a product of smart planning -- but they also got some lucky breaks.

Jon Lester and
Clay Buchholz pitched largely like themselves again, even if Buchholz had trouble making it to the finish line.
John Lackey came back strong. They found a closer out of nowhere in
Koji Uehara, who didn't begin the season finishing games but ended it as arguably the best closer in baseball.

The 2013 Yankees, on the other hand, were ravaged by injuries, using the most players in franchise history. You could argue this stemmed from poor design and old age. The Red Sox dealt with a similar plague in 2012.

Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em!

Jacoby Ellsbury is just the latest in a long line of Red Sox heroes who have defected to the Bronx. Photo Gallery

As we all try to forecast 2014 -- and we will be doing that a lot over the next week or so -- luck is a major factor, one that often leaves the experts scratching their heads by season's end.

Will
Brian McCann and
Kelly Johnson add an extra 10 homers in the Bronx as the Yankees think they can? Will they end up on the DL? Will
Mark Teixeira and
Derek Jeter return to some semblance of their All-Star prowess, or will they be just broken-down older players?